Arbroath Harbour Dock Gates

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Background

Angus Council is starting construction works on the dock gates at Arbroath Harbour in January 2027. This will affect vessel movements between the inner and outer harbour.

Importance of dock gate replacement

The replacement of the existing tidal dock gates is a critical element of the wider harbour infrastructure improvement programme. The ageing gates need to be replaced to maintain the long-term resilience and effective operation of the harbour, particularly in safeguarding the conservancy of water depths within the inner harbour.

Maintaining the integrity and effectiveness of the dock gates is essential to managing water retention and reducing the risk of deterioration in inner harbour depths, which could otherwise affect vessel access, operational capability and the long-term sustainability of harbour activities.

While the construction works will create temporary operational challenges, completing these essential infrastructure improvements is important to protecting the harbour's future functionality and providing greater resilience for harbour users.

Provisional construction programme

The current anticipated programme is as follows:

• Monday 4 January 2027: Contractors are provisionally scheduled to commence initial site activities and preparatory works at Arbroath Harbour.
• Monday 11 January 2027: Piling works are scheduled to commence within the inner harbour entrance channel.

These dates remain provisional and may be subject to change as the contractor's programme is finalised. Further information will be provided as the project progresses.

Inner harbour access and vessel movements

The construction works will require temporary restrictions on vessel movements between the inner and outer harbour.

The current construction proposal involves installing a 3-metre-high sheet pile wall to form a cofferdam within the inner harbour entrance channel. This will provide a controlled working area for the contractors. The structure will be overtopped by the tide at high water, allowing restricted access into and out of the inner harbour during these periods.

The precise arrangements, including access windows, operational restrictions and safety requirements for harbour users, will be confirmed once the contractor's construction methodology has been finalised.

Winter berthing arrangements

To maximise the available space for outer harbour vessels during the construction period, winter berthing arrangements have been placed on hold. This will help maintain operational flexibility while the works are undertaken and vessel movements may be restricted.

We appreciate that these works may cause disruption and require careful planning by harbour users. Providing early notice will allow stakeholders to consider the potential implications for their vessels, operations and schedules.

Stakeholder engagement

A contractor engagement session will be held on Thursday 12 November 10:30am to 12:30pm at the Crew Room, beside the fishmarket. This will give harbour stakeholders an opportunity to meet contractors, discuss proposed construction process, understand the anticipated impact on harbour operations and raise any questions or concerns in person.

We will arrange follow-up meetings for those unable to attend the meeting on 12 November.

You can also use the space below to ask us any question you have.